How Much Does It Cost to Have a Wedding In Santa Barbara
Photo by Kindred by Ash
When couples ask about wedding costs in Santa Barbara, they often encounter vague ranges like "$35,000 to $75,000". However, these numbers don't tell the whole story. The true cost of your Santa Barbara wedding depends primarily on your guest count—in addition to many other factors—and it's more helpful to think about it in terms of cost per person attending.
To help you better understand the ranges and what you can expect to get from each different tier, we’ve broken it down for you:
Simple Elegance: $250-500 per Guest
You can expect the following services and details for a wedding that falls into this first tier:
A local Santa Barbara venue with basic amenities such as parking, restrooms, and standard furniture such as tables and chairs.
A buffet or family-style dinner rather than a plated or served meal.
A bar that focuses primarily on beer and wine service and doesn’t include liquor or more specialized cocktails.
Simple floral arrangements that cover a minimal ceremony and a small wedding party.
Entertainment and music from a DJ or MC rather than a live band or other musicians.
Basic photography coverage for a set amount of time.
In total for this tier, couples should expect to pay $25,000-40,000 for 100 guests or $37,500-60,000 for 150 guests.
Photo by Willa Kveta Photography
Classic Mid-Range: $500-1,000 per Guest
You can expect the following services and details for a wedding that falls into this second tier:
A more premium Santa Barbara venue with a view of the ocean or mountains and supplemental amenities.
A plated dinner service with waitstaff but possibly limited to one or two courses served.
A full bar staffed and stocked with beer, wine, and spirits.
More elaborate florals covering personal flowers, the ceremony, and reception, plus rentals and decor.
Multiple music options like live ceremony music plus a DJ for the reception.
Full-day photography coverage from experienced vendors.
Access to a wedding planner who can manage vendors, timeline details, and more.
In total for this tier, couples should expect to pay $50,000-100,000 for 100 guests or $75,000-150,000 for 150 guests.
Photo by Pinnel Photography
Luxury Experience: $1,000-1,500 per Guest
You can expect the following services and details for a wedding that falls into this third and final tier:
A premium Santa Barbara estate or resort venue with views and a range of amenities for you and your guests.
A multi-course plated dinner with wine pairings all served by experienced waitstaff.
A top-tier full bar service featuring wine, beer, liquor, and specialty cocktails all served by talented and entertaining mixologists.
Extensive floral installations covering personal arrangements, ceremony flowers including the arch and aisle details, and reception flowers including centerpieces, hanging floral displays, cake table florals, etc.
Ceremony musicians, a multi-piece live band for the reception, and even musical talent during cocktail hour.
A full expert photography and videography team booked for the entire day from getting ready to the grand exit.
Full-service wedding planning, event design, and day-of coordination.
Custom and personalized details throughout.
In total for this tier, couples should expect to pay $100,000-150,000 for 100 guests or $150,000-225,000 for 150 guests.
Photo by Gina and Ryan Photography
Key Factors That Influence Per-Person Cost
Venue Selection: From historic adobes to beachfront resorts to whimsical parks, Santa Barbara has it all and each individual venue has its own unique pricing dependent on factors like availability, amenities offered, etc.
Food & Beverage: The meal and drinks typically represent around 30-40% of your per-person cost.
Season: Peak dates from May through October command premium pricing in Santa Barbara.
Day of Week: Saturday evenings standardly cost more than Sunday-Friday options.
Money-Saving Tips Without Sacrificing Style
Consider an off-season date from November through April.
Consider a weekday as well (Sunday through Thursday) if it would work for you and your guests.
Opt for a lunch or even brunch wedding rather than an evening affair.
Choose a venue that is already equipped with furniture, plates, silverware, etc. to avoid paying money for rentals.
Select in-season flowers and be open to design suggestions from your florist.
Limit the bar menu to signature cocktails plus wine and beer, or opt for per-person bar packages.
Have your ceremony and reception at the same location to avoid paying double fees and transportation costs.
Remember: These numbers are averages, and you can find options both above and below these ranges. The key is determining your priorities and allocating your budget accordingly.
Photo by Michelle Ramirez Photography
A Final Note About Guest Count
While it might be tempting to invite more guests to "make the most" of your venue rental, remember that each guest adds to your total cost through:
Food and beverage
Place settings and rentals
Favors and welcome gifts
Share of floral centerpieces
Invitation suite
Transportation or valet (as required)
Instead of focusing on an overall budget number, start with your ideal guest count and multiply it by a realistic per-person budget for your desired experience level. This approach will give you a much more accurate picture of what your Santa Barbara wedding might cost and help you plan accordingly.
